Device for measuring and sampling fluid



Patented Mar. 31, 1931 r1,798,788

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLMES H. DYER, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA DEVICE FOR MEASURIN G AND SAMPLING FLUID Application led February 11, 1929. Serial No. 338,937.

This invention has to do with a device for ing for the movable element whereby it is measuring and sampling fluid, it being a gensupported to oscillate so that the comparteral object of the invention to provide a siniments are alternately brought under a stream ple, inexpensive, and eflicient device of this of Huid, means l1 for recording the opera- `5 character. tions of the movable element, and means 12 in 55 It is an object of the present invention to connection with the movable element for auprovide a simple, efficient, and dependable cletomatically sampling the fluid as the device vice for measuring Huid. by weight as distinoperates. guished from volume or bulk. The movable element is in the form of a lo Another object of the invention is to prounit constructed to form chambers or com- 6o vide a device of the character mentioned partments A and B which are symmetrical which is simple and inexpensive of manufacin formation and alike. The compartments ture and which is capable of being made to A and B are open and related so that the comhandle either large or small quantities of mapartment A faces upwardly to receive fluid terial. when the compartment B is positioned to dis- 65 Another object of the present invention is charge fluid, while the compartment B faces to provide a device of the character mentioned upwardly to receive fluid when the compartoperable to sample or take specimens of mament A is positioned to discharge fluid. In terial being passed through it. the preferred arrangement the compartments It is a further objectof this invention to A and B are in adjoining relation or are side 70 provide a combination measuring and samby side, as clearly illustrated throughout the pling device which operates to take samples of drawings. The compartment A is formed by the fluid being handled by the device during an outer side wall 13, an inner side wallA 14, operation. of the device, for instance upon and end walls 15. The compartment B is each operation of the device, so that a true, formed by an outer side wall16, an inner side 75 typical sample is obtained. wall 17, and end walls 18. In the preferred The various objects and features of the in- Construction a single plate or partition opervention will be best and more fully under ates as a division between the two compartstood from the following detailed description ments so that its opposite sides form the walls ao of a typical form and application of the in- 14 and 17 of the two compartments. so vention, throughout which description I re- The side walls 13 and 14 of the compartfer to the accompanying drawings, in which yment A join at a central bottom point and are Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the related to extend upwardly and outwardly device provided. by this invention. Fig. 2 is a from Such point at corresponding angles detailed transverse sectional view of the c e- When the movable element is positioned with 85 vice being a view taken substantially as inthe compartment A facing upwardly. f In the dicated by line 2 2 on Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a repreferred formation the walls 13 and 14 eX- duced view of the device taken as indicated 'fond upwardly and outwardly from the botby line 3*?) on Fig. 1 showing certain parts toni point at angles of 45 degrees with 40 broken away. Figs. 4and 5' are diagrammatic reference to a vertical line through the said 90 views illustrating the two positions of the point So that the Said vertical line extends device and illustratingV the principles of the through the center of gravity of any body of invention. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed secfluid filled into the compartment A when the tional view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Compartment is in the up position, as shown Fig. l. in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. 95

The device provided by this invention in The compartment B is formed similar to cludes, generally, a movable element embodythe compartment A, that is, its sides 16 and ing two like compartments A and B adapted 17 are joined at a lower or bottom point and to alternately receive and discharge the maextend upwardly and outwardly in opposite terialV being handled by the device, a inountdirections from said point at corresponding 100 angles when the compartment B is faced upwardly, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. In the construction, where a single plate forms the division between the two compartments A and B, the bottom points of the two compartments are substantially coincident, that is, they both occur where the said single central partition plate joins the two side outside walls 13 and 16.

The mounting 10, provided for carrying the movable element so that it can tilt or oscillate between ther two positions above referred to, may be of anyl suitable construction. In the drawings I have illustrated a mounting including end standards 2O each having a base 21 to be secured to a suitable horizontal support, and a bearing 22 at a point spaced a suitable distance above such support.V The two standards 2O are preferably joined by straps 23 positioned to form stops for the movable element as will be apparent from inspection of the drawings. The bearings 22 of the end standards are adapted to support the movable element by supporting projections 24 extending from the ends ofthe movable element.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, the projections 24 may be the end portions of an axle or shaft 40 secured to the movable element. In the drawings I have shown the shaft 40 secured to the under side of the movable element and provided with arms 41 extending upwardly at each end of the movable element. arms 41 of the shaft are located at the exterior of the movable element and are parallel to the ends of the movable element. The projections Q4 extend horizontally from the upper ends of the arms 41. Each projection 24 carries a pivot pin 43. The pins 43 may be screw threaded through the projections 24 so that they project downwardly into the bearings QQ. rPhe pins 43 are provided at their upper ends with a polygonal head adapted to be engaged by a wrench,or the like. Each pin is rounded at itsy lower end as clearly shown in the drawings. Lockl nuts 45 are provided on the pins to engage the upper faces of the projections 24 so that the pins can be set in position.

The bearings 22 are provided with sockets 46 to receive the rounded lower ends of the pins 43. The sockets 46 have upwardly divergent side walls so that the pins can rock in them. The sockets are formed so that the rounded end portions of the pins 43 are supported by the rounded bottoms of the sockets and are formed so that the end portions are the only portions of the bolts that engage the standards 20. The sockets are also formed so that they may contain oil or other suitable lubricating material. Y

In the construction just described the horizontal axis extending through the points of contact of the pins 43 and the bottoms of the The sockets 46 lies in the plane of division between the compartments A and B and is located within the movable element, or above the point at which the central partition joins the outer sides 13 and 16. The pins 43 support the movable element so that the axis of pivotal movement may be adjusted vertically to change the center of gravity of the movable element with reference to the pivotal axis. The mechanisms of the mountings 10 are covered and protected by hoods 60 which completely encase the upper portions of the standards 20. rI`he hoods may be formed of sheet metal and may be attached to standard 20, as shown in the drawings.

By locating the axis of pivotal movement of the movable element as above describedj the vertical line extending through the center of gravity of the body of material in the compartment A, when the compartment A isllp as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is horizontally o set in one direction from said axis of pivotal movement of the movable element, while the vertical line extending through the center of gravity of the body of material in the compartment B, when the compartment B is up as shown in Fig. 5, is horizontally offset in the opposite direction from said axis of pivotal movement of the movable element. The center of gravity of the movable element as a whole, and considered without fluid in either compartment, is located in the plane of division between the two compartments and a suitable distance above the pivotal axis of the movable elementV so that a vertical i line through the center of gravity of the movable element, when the element is in filling position, is removed a substantial distance horizontally from the axis of pivotal movement in a. direction opposite to that in which the vertical line through the compartment beingY filled is offset from the pivotal axis of the element. This is true when the movable -element is in either of the positions illustrated in the drawings.

Thus, when the movable element is positioned with the compartment A up, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the action of gravity on the movable element tends to turn the movable element in the direction indicated by the arrow C inFig. 4 due to the center'of gravity of the movable element being horizontally offset from the center of rotation of the element. As material is filled into theY compartment A as from a iuid conduit 25, the weight of material in the compartment A tends to turn the movable element in the opposite direction, that is, in the direction indicated bythe arrow D in Fig. 4, f

the weight of material in the compartment A having a tendency to turn the movable element in this manner due to the vertical line through the center of gravity of the material in compartment A being offset from the axis of pivotal movement of the movable element in a direction opposite from that in which the center of gravity of the movable element is offset from the axis of rotation.

It is preferred that the conduit 25 be arranged so that the material discharged into the compartments strikes the compartments in substantial vertical alignment with the pivotal axis of the movable element. With the conduit 25 positioned in this manner, the impact of the material falling into the compartments has no tendency to turn the movable element on its pivotal axis or to prevent the movable element from turning on its axis. It is evident that the conduit 25 may be positioned over the compartments so that the material falls into the compartments at one side of the pivotal axis ofthe movable element, thereby adjusting the balance so that one compartment will discharge more material than the other compartment each complete operation of the device.

By the present invention the compartment A is uniform or regular in configuration and therefore the action of gravity on the mass in compartment A always acts through the same vertical line or center and therefore has a constant leverage with reference to the axis of pivotal movement of the element with the result that the element will not move in the direction indicated by the arrow D until the weight of material in compartment A reaches a. definite value. When the weight of material in compartment A becomes sufficient to overcome the tendency of the mass of the movable element to turn the element in the direction indicated by the arrow C, the element turns from the positions shown in Figs. l and 4 to that shown in Fig. 5. The compartment B is then up and in position to receive fluid from the conduit 25, and, while the material drains from the compartment A, material fills into the compartment- B.

The action of material filled into compartment B is the same as that above described with reference to compartment A, that is, when the weight of the material in the compartment B is sufficient the movable element turns from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Figs. l and 4. Thus it will be seen that the operation of the lelement about its pivotal axisis caused by the weight of material filled into the compartments A and B and that the action of the material tending to turn the elem-ent has a constant or fixed leverage with reference to the action of gravity on the element! thus tending to turn the element. As a result of this arrangement. thc device operates to accuratel.7 measure .nass or weight as distinguished from volume.

The means ll provided for registering the operations of' the movable element may comprise an ordinary or conventional form of counter 30 arranged on one of the hoods 60 so that its operating lever 3l. is engaged and operated by fingers 32 projecting from one end of the movable element. I have shown the counter located on one of the hoods 60 carried by a standard 20. The fingers 32 are located so that the lever 31 is tripped or operated each time the movable element turns about its pivotal axis. This provides a simple, dependable means of counting the operations of the movable element, and, knowing the weight of material handled by the device for each operation of the movable element, it is simple to calculate the exact amount of fluid handled by the device in a given time.

The means 12 provided for taking samples of the material handled by the device durinO operation of the device includes spaced blades 50 projecting upwardly from the plate which forms the division between compartments A and B to pass under the discharge end of the conduit 25 or through the stream of fluid entering the device. The blades 50, being spaced apart, operate to catch a certain amount of fluid entering the device. The exact amount caught during each passage of the blades under the conduit 25 depends upon the spacing of the blades. I provide means for adjusting or varying the spacing of the blades 50. This means may include bolts 5l extending between the blades as illustrated in the drawings.

The material caught between the blades flows by gravity into a conduit 42 which may be extended to any desired point7 for instance, it may project outwardly through one end of the movable element and may pro ject to a point where it intersects the axis of pivotal movement of the element Where it' may be open to discharge. A suitable receptacle 44 may be arranged under the discharge or open end of the conduit 42 to receive the samples caught by the blades 50. By suitable adjusting or positioning the blades 50, the desired cut or sample may be taken during each operation of the device so that the composite sample received by the receptacle 44 is of the same character as the entire mass of material passed by the device. This makes the device particularly useful for measuring oil as it is produced from a well as in such case the gravity or physical properties of the oil may vary from time to time so that a sample taken at any one time is not a fair indication as to the general character of the oil produced. With the present device the small sample taken each operation of the device results in a true or fair sample such as cannot be obtained with ordinary devices heretofore proposed.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the features and operations of the device will be fully understood. It is to e particularly noted that the device is simple and inexpensive of construction and that it has no delicate or intricate parts failure or improper operation.

subject to The device is particularly suitedf forv use in oil: measuring oil as above suggested in that it will effectively measure vsuch'lnatefields for:

rial accurately by weight and will operate 4continuously and dependably with little ory any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. Ameasuring device including, a movable element having two compartments, and means pivotally supporting the movable element for oscillatory movementA between two positions wherethecenter ofgravity of the elements is at opposite sides ofthe pivotal axis, the compartments being. formed so that` one compartment is up and the otherdown when the movable element is in one position and the positions of the compartments are reversed when the movable element is inthe other position, and so that the center of gravity of the materialin a compartment inan up position has a constant verticalaxis and is opposite the center ofgravity of the movable elementrelative to the pivotal axis, said means including supports at opposite-ends-of the movable element, and pivot'pins on the movable element engaging the supportsso that the pivotal axis ofthe element is located above the bottom ofthe element.

' 2. A measuring devicefincluding, a movable element having two compartments, and means -pivotally supporting the movable element for. oscillatory movement between two positionsV where the center. of gravity of the elements is at oppositesides. ofthe pivotal axis, the compartments-being formed so that one compartment is up and thefother downwhen the movable -elementis in Vone position and thepositions of the compartments are reversed. when otherposition, and so that the'center of gravity of the material ina compartmentV in an up position has aconstantfvertical axis and is opposite the center of gravity of the mov- Vable elementrelative to the pivotal axis, said means including supportsY at opposite ends of the: movable element, and pivot pins on the movable element centrallylocated on the elel the supports at ment. and located to lengage points above the bottom ofthe element,

8. Ameasuring device-including,a-movable f element having two compartments, and means pivotallysupporting the movable element for oscillatory movement betweenA two positions where the center of gravity of the element is atopposite sides of the pivotal axis, the compartments beingfformed so that one compart- Y ment is up and the other` down when the movable element is in one position and the posi-w the movable element is in the tionsv ofthe compartments are reversed 'when position,

has a constant vertical axis and is opposite the:

center of gravity of the movable elementrela'- tive to the pivotal axis, said means including,"

supporting standards at opposite ends of the' movable element, Vthe standards having sockets, projections at the ends of the movable element, and pivot pins carried by the projections to seat in the sockets.

4. A measuring device including, a movable element having a division member forming compartments adapted to contain material, means pivotally supporting the movable element for oscillatory movement between two positions wherethe center of `gravity of the movable element is at opposite sides of rthe pivotal axis, the compartments beingl disposed in the movable element so that they are alternately up and down when theelement is in the two positions andsothat the center of gravity of the material in a compartment in the up position vertical axis and is opposite the center of gravity of the movable element relative to the pivotal axis, ing spaced blades carried by the division member, and a conduit connectedwith the space between the' blades.

5. A measuring device including, a movable element having two compartments adapted to contain material, there being a division member between the two compartments, means pivotallv` supporting the movable element for oscillatory-movement between-the two positions where the center of gravity of the movable element is at opposite sides of the pivotal axis, the compartments being disposed in the movable element so thatthey are alternately up and down when the element is in the two positions and so that the centerof gravity of the material in the up position andfis opposite the center of gravity. of the movable element relative to the pivotal axis, and sampling means including, spaced blades connected at their lower ends, bolts extend-i` has a constanty and sampling means includ-` a compartment inr has a constant-vertical axis- 

